Recommendation 36

We are deeply concerned about the increasing numbers of children and young people who experience self-harm and suicide and the quality of care they are able to access. Much more needs to be done to tackle suicide and self-harm amongst children and young people. In particular, given the link between self-harm in children and young people and later suicidality, any suicide prevention strategy must include improving the support available to those who self-harm. We have heard that too often, children and young people’s mental health services are not commissioned with self-harm in mind. It is essential that self-harm is not used as a reason to reject referrals to mental health services. While we welcome the inclusion of self-harm in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, we are clear that support must be available earlier to these children and young people, before they reach a crisis point.